AMD Question

[Decon]

As much as I'd like to say that I know all things about all GPU's, I don't (not sure anyone does)  One thing that still confuses me is AMD's rebrand policy.  Anyone want to break it down to me? (maybe even as far back as 2011-2012)  Thanks

[Judahnator]

AMD takes their good GPU's from one generation, and resells them as a "fair" or low-end GPU the next generation.

This way they save a little bit of money while still being able to compete.

[Decon]

AMD takes their good GPU's from one generation, and resells them as a "fair" or low-end GPU the next generation.

This way they save a little bit of money while still being able to compete.

The main reason I am confused is because someone said the 7870 GPU core was first introduced in 2012.  I though 7000 series cards were introduced later

[JefferyD90]

Each generation of video cards from AMD comes with a new core design, it is usually their top two tier parts. Then everything else just shifts down.

R9-290X = New card

R9-290 = New card

R9-280X = HD 7970 (previous generation flagship)

R9-280 = HD 7950 (previous generation second card)

etc... if you need me to continue, I can probably do so. You can also look up "Radeon wiki"

[Decon]

Each generation of video cards from AMD comes with a new core design, it is usually their top two tier parts. Then everything else just shifts down.

R9-290X = New card

R9-290 = New card

R9-280X = HD 7970 (previous generation flagship)

R9-280 = HD 7950 (previous generation second card)

etc... if you need me to continue, I can probably do so. You can also look up "Radeon wiki"

thanks  I thought the 280x was just an OC'ed 280 lol...

[incarnate]

basically rather than create 3-5 new gpu chip designs they make one new chip (usually, the 200 series saw 2 new chips), then take their existing chips and use them for the next lower tier of cards.

[JefferyD90]

The main reason I am confused is because someone said the 7870 GPU core was first introduced in 2012.  I though 7000 series cards were introduced later

Radeon HD 7800[edit]

Codenamed Pitcairn, the Radeon HD 7800 series was formally unveiled on March 5, 2012, with retail availability from March 19, 2012. Products include the Radeon HD 7870 and Radeon HD 7850. The Radeon HD 7870 features 1280 usable stream cores, whereas the Radeon HD 7850 has 1024 usable stream cores. Both cards are equipped with 2 GB GDDR5 memory and manufactured on TSMC's 28 nm process.[7]

From Wikipedia.

[JefferyD90]

basically rather than create 3-5 new gpu chip designs they make one new chip (usually, the 200 series saw 2 new chips), then take their existing chips and use them for the next lower tier of cards.

The 200 series saw three new chips. R9-290X, 290, 285.

[Judahnator]

The main reason I am confused is because someone said the 7870 GPU core was first introduced in 2012.  I though 7000 series cards were introduced later

 

You are on the right track, but it works a little differently.

 

Neither AMD nor nVidia make a crap or consumer-grade card. That simply is not what they design. (think of the GTX 650, Radeon 7750, etc).

 

They design their flagship cards (like the GTX 980 or R9 295), and all other cards are based on that. A GTX 970 is a failed 980, a 960 is an even worse one, and so on... So the 7000 series archetecture was likely around a while before they released the flagship GPU's.

[Decon]

You are on the right track, but it works a little differently.

 

Neither AMD nor nVidia make a crap or consumer-grade card. That simply is not what they design. (think of the GTX 650, Radeon 7750, etc).

 

They design their flagship cards (like the GTX 980 or R9 295), and all other cards are based on that. A GTX 970 is a failed 980, a 960 is an even worse one, and so on... So the 7000 series archetecture was likely around a while before they released the flagship GPU's.

hmmm interesting  Thanks

[TheSLSAMG]

Just to give a fuller list:

 

R9 295x2 - new

R9 290X - new

R9 290 - new

R9 280X - HD 7970 GHz Edition

R9 285 - new

R9 280 - HD 7950

R9 270X - HD 7870 GHz Edition

R9 270 - HD 7870

R7 265 - HD 7850

R7 260X - HD 7790 with a clock boost

R7 260 - HD 7790

R7 250X  - HD 7770

[Decon]

Just to give a fuller list:

 

R9 295x2 - new

R9 290X - new

R9 290 - new

R9 280X - HD 7970 GHz Edition

R9 285 - new

R9 280 - HD 7950

R9 270X - HD 7870 GHz Edition

R9 270 - HD 7870

R7 265 - HD 7850

R7 260X - HD 7790 with a clock boost

R7 260 - HD 7790

R7 250X  - HD 7770

All these numbers... I am confused

 

Anyone want to break down the numbering scheme for me?

[D3MON]

Each generation of video cards from AMD comes with a new core design, it is usually their top two tier parts. Then everything else just shifts down.

R9-290X = New card

R9-290 = New card

R9-280X = HD 7970 (previous generation flagship)

R9-280 = HD 7950 (previous generation second card)

etc... if you need me to continue, I can probably do so. You can also look up "Radeon wiki"

got any actual proof? last time i checked the 6970 wasnt a rebrand, the ONLY cards they ahve EVER rebranded infact was this last lot from 7xxx series to 2xx series and thats it.

nvidia on the other hand will release a series like 8000(tesla) then rebrand it to 9000, then come out with a new architecture (gt200) or rebrand, the 400 series was another architecture(fermi), 500 was a rebrand, 600 was a new architecture(kepler), 700 was a rebrand, 900 series is a new architecture(maxwell) 1K will probably be a rebrand with a die shrink when 20 or 14nm hits in 2016.

 

R9 295x2 - dual 290x's

R9 290X - new

R9 290 - new

R9 280X - HD 7970 GHz Edition

R9 280 - HD 7950

R9 285 - cut down next gen TahitiLE (a 280/7950 core on a 270/7870 pcb)

R9 270X - HD 7870 GHz Edition

R9 270 - HD 7870

R7 265 - HD 7850

R7 260X - HD 7790

R7 260 - cut down HD 7790

R7 250X  - HD 7770

?????? - HD 7750 missing

R7-250 - new

R7 240 - new

ignore the R7 and R9 lineup as it doesnt matter none of them overlap so you could just call a card a "270" or "280x"...

the old 7000 sereis were all new card afaik and 600 series was pretty much new albeit some were "buffed" like the 6670 is a 5670 on steroids and +20%

nvidias is worse, a gtx760 is slower than a gtx670...

[JefferyD90]

thanks  I thought the 280x was just an OC'ed 280 lol...

R9-290X has 3 parts...

The "R9" detonates it is made for gamers. The "290" detonates the class of the chip. The "X" detonates that it is a fully unlocked version of the chip.

Go look up PC Per's video of the GTX970 "Memory-gate" You'll see a good diagram of a chip that is locked down a little.

[dark_xzyph3r]

R9-290X has 3 parts...

The "R9" detonates it is made for gamers. The "290" detonates the class of the chip. The "X" detonates that it is a fully unlocked version of the chip.

Go look up PC Per's video of the GTX970 "Memory-gate" You'll see a good diagram of a chip that is locked down a little.

Ummm detonates? Do you mean denotes?

[-rascal-]

Doesn't the R7-260(X) also new GPU cores?

Okay not 100% new, but updated variants since ONLY the new architecture GPUs are compatible with FreeSync. All of the "rebrands" don't support FreeSync.

- R9-295X2

- R9-290(X)

- R9-285

- R7-260(X)

Are currently the only ones that work with FreeSync.

ATi / AMD typically don't do a whole lot of rebranding, but it was a little different this time around with the R-200 series.

Other than that, the only other rebrand they did in recent history was the HD 5770/5750. They literally just changed the number 5 to a 6, making it the HD 6770/6750; nothing else.

[dark_xzyph3r]

Doesn't the R7-260(X) also new GPU cores?

Okay not 100% new, but updated variants since ONLY the new architecture GPUs are compatible with FreeSync. All of the "rebrands" don't support FreeSync.

- R9-295X2

- R9-290(X)

- R9-285

- R7-260(X)

Are currently the only ones that work with FreeSync.

ATi / AMD typically don't do a whole lot of rebranding, but it was a little different this time around with the R-200 series.

Other than that, the only other rebrand they did in recent history was the HD 5770/5750. They literally just changed the number 5 to a 6, making it the HD 6770/6750; nothing else.

Couldn't you just flash a 2xx bios on a rebrand respectively? Also I thought that Freesync is based on the GPU core so if its rebranded then don't they have the same GPU core?

[-rascal-]

Couldn't you just flash a 2xx bios on a rebrand respectively? Also I thought that Freesync is based on the GPU core so if its rebranded then don't they have the same GPU core?

Exactly.

The GPU Core needs to have support built-in.

This is why the rebranded cards don't support FreeSync and TruAudio.

Just did some quick searching, the R7-260(X) uses the revised 'Bonaire XT' core, so they are different from the HD 7770 / 7750.

The HD 7790 came out a year later, (a few months before the R-200 series were launched), and it uses the 'Bonaire XT' core.

[JefferyD90]

Ummm detonates? Do you mean denotes?

No, detonates... haven't you ever seen AMD's The Fixer? Shit blows up.

[dark_xzyph3r]

Exactly.

The GPU Core needs to have support built-in.

This is why the rebranded cards don't support FreeSync and TruAudio.

Just did some quick searching, the R7-260(X) uses the revised 'Bonaire XT' core, so they are different from the HD 7770 / 7750.

The HD 7790 came out a year later, (a few months before the R-200 series were launched), and it uses the 'Bonaire XT' core.

I feel that's kinda stupid.. I also did some googling and apparently only GCN 1.1 cards will support TruAudio and Freesync.. I am now leaning towards G-Sync since my 7770 isn't compatible with Freesync

[dark_xzyph3r]

No, detonates... haven't you ever seen AMD's The Fixer? Shit blows up.

Just watched all 3, kinda weird..

[JefferyD90]

Just watched all 3, kinda weird..

That shit is kinda funny isn't it... lol

At first I thought it was Kevin Pereira, but then I realized this guy isn't quite as handsome.

[dark_xzyph3r]

That shit is kinda funny isn't it... lol

At first I thought it was Kevin Pereira, but then I realized this guy isn't quite as handsome.

Haha yeah its funny, loved the 3rd when the nVidia guy was all depressed and it was all greyscaled then freaks out

[dark_xzyph3r]

Doesn't the R7-260(X) also new GPU cores?

Okay not 100% new, but updated variants since ONLY the new architecture GPUs are compatible with FreeSync. All of the "rebrands" don't support FreeSync.

- R9-295X2

- R9-290(X)

- R9-285

- R7-260(X)

Are currently the only ones that work with FreeSync.

ATi / AMD typically don't do a whole lot of rebranding, but it was a little different this time around with the R-200 series.

Other than that, the only other rebrand they did in recent history was the HD 5770/5750. They literally just changed the number 5 to a 6, making it the HD 6770/6750; nothing else.

Sorry to be picky but the R9 290 (non x) and the 7790 are also supporting FreeSync and TruAudio.

[incarnate]

The 200 series saw three new chips. R9-290X, 290, 285.

 

the 285 was a refinement of tahiti, 290 and 290x were the same gpu. but you are are that there were 3 new gpus, the third being the 260x. but still. my point still stands. amd rebrands to save r&d costs.